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Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI)3

Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) Test

In 5 minutes, see how strongly someone holds stereotypes about women, from overt hostility to subtle praise that reinforces roles. Get fast, clear insight for research, training, or clinical work.

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Questions: 225 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

17,642 views

1,571 completion

1,190 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

2/5

Heterosexual Intimacy (HI)

Measures endorsement of the belief that men need closeness with women to feel complete, reflecting traditional heterosexual relationship role expectations.

Low endorsement

Moderate endorsement

High endorsement

0 – 1.6: Low endorsement | 1.7 – 3.3: Moderate endorsement | 3.4 – 5: High endorsement

A score of 2 falls in the Moderate endorsement range, suggesting a noticeable but not strong tendency to view heterosexual closeness as necessary for men to feel whole.

example score

2/5

Protective Paternalism (PP)

Measures the extent to which a person endorses protecting and providing for women in exchange for their acceptance of traditional, lower-status roles.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1.6: Low | 1.7 – 3.3: Moderate | 3.4 – 5: High

A score of 2 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not strong tendency toward protective, paternalistic views about women’s roles.

example score

2/5

Complementary Gender Differentiation (CGD)

Measures the extent to which you endorse the belief that women’s positive traits are meant to complement and compensate for men’s stereotypical shortcomings.

Low endorsement

Moderate endorsement

High endorsement

0 – 1: Low endorsement | 2 – 3: Moderate endorsement | 4 – 5: High endorsement

A score of 2 suggests a moderate tendency to view gender differences as complementary, with some endorsement of stereotypical role-compensation beliefs.

example score

3/5

Benevolent Sexism (BS)

Measures endorsement of paternalistic, seemingly positive stereotypes about women that emphasize dependence, protection, and traditional roles.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1.33: Low | 1.34 – 3.9: Moderate | 3.91 – 5: High

A score of 3 indicates a moderate tendency to view women through protective or idealizing stereotypes that can still imply dependence on men.

example score

3/5

Hostile Sexism (HS)

Measures endorsement of overtly negative beliefs that women seek to control, manipulate, or usurp power from men.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1.73: Low | 1.74 – 4.16: Moderate | 4.17 – 5: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme tendency to agree with hostile, adversarial views about women’s intentions toward men.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Gender attitudes researchers

41%OF USERS

Students, sociologists, and psychologists use it to measure hostile vs. benevolent sexism in studies and compare results across groups.

Diversity and HR practitioners

33%OF USERS

People running workplace inclusion or training programs take it to gauge baseline attitudes and track changes after interventions.

Self-reflection seekers

26%OF USERS

Individuals curious about their own beliefs take it to spot subtle stereotypes that can show up as “compliments” or protective behavior.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Heterosexual Intimacy (HI)

Average

2.4

Normal range

1.6 — 3.2

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Protective Paternalism (PP)

Average

3.7

Normal range

3 — 4.3

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Complementarity (C)

Average

2.5

Normal range

1.7 — 3.2

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Benevolent Sexism (BS)

Average

3.2

Normal range

2.5 — 4

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Hostile Sexism (HS)

Average

3.4

Normal range

2.5 — 4.3

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Below is a series of statements about men and women and their relationships in contemporary society. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement using the response scale provided.

- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree

These are 3 of the 22 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) Test - Symptoms and Signs

misogyny

sexism

This measure is designed to assess attitudes toward women, including both overtly negative and subjectively positive beliefs. The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) evaluates two related dimensions commonly described as hostile sexism and benevolent sexism.

The instrument consists of 22 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. It is used in clinical, research, and program-evaluation contexts to characterize the degree to which gender-related stereotypes and role expectations are endorsed, including attitudes that may be expressed as protection, idealization, or traditionalist beliefs.

Interpretation of Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) scores may help differentiate explicitly antagonistic attitudes from more subtle, paternalistic views, supporting case formulation or hypothesis generation when gender attitudes are clinically or socially relevant.

Author: Peter Glick, Susan T. Fiske

Literature: Glick, P., & Fiske, S. T. The ambivalent sexism inventory: Differentiating hostile and benevolent sexism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1996.